Communication Device, Terminal Device, and Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Recording Media Storing Computer-Readable Instructions for Communication Device and Terminal Device

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-105163 filed on Jun. 28, 2024. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference.

A technology is known that notifies a user of a cause of communication being inexecutable between a communication device and an information processing device via an external device. According to this technology, when communication is inexecutable via the external device, a connection is newly established between the communication device and the information processing device without intervention of the external device. The information processing device then acquires the cause from the communication device via the newly established connection and notifies the user of the cause.

The disclosure herein provides a novel technology for notifying a user that a communication device is unable to execute wireless communication.

A communication device is disclosed herein. The communication device may include a Wi-Fi interface configured for wireless communication according to Wi-Fi standard and a controller. The controller may be configured to establish a first wireless connection between the communication device and a first external device via the Wi-Fi interface according to a first scheme of the Wi-Fi standard, wherein the communication device is able to execute wireless communication with a terminal device by using the first wireless connection. The controller may be configured to establish a second wireless connection between the communication device and the terminal device via the Wi-Fi interface according to a second scheme of the Wi-Fi standard different from the first scheme. The controller may be configured to, in a case where the communication device shifts to a state in which the communication device is unable to execute wireless communication with the terminal device by using the first wireless connection after both the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection have been established at the communication device, send disablement information to the terminal device via the Wi-Fi interface by using the second wireless connection, wherein the disablement information indicates that the wireless communication using the first wireless connection is inexecutable.

According to the configuration above, in the case where the communication device shifts to the state in which the communication device is unable to execute wireless communication with the terminal device by using the first wireless connection after the first wireless connection according to the first scheme and the second wireless connection according to the second scheme have been established, the communication device sends the disablement information to the terminal device by using the second wireless connection. Thus, a user of the terminal device is notified that the communication device is unable to execute wireless communication using the first wireless connection.

A terminal device is also disclosed herein. The terminal device may include a Wi-Fi interface configured for wireless communication according to Wi-Fi standard and a controller. The controller may be configured to establish a first wireless connection between the terminal device and a first external device via the Wi-Fi interface according to a first scheme of the Wi-Fi standard, wherein the terminal device is able to execute wireless communication with a communication device by using the first wireless connection. The controller may be configured to establish a second wireless connection between the communication device and the terminal device via the Wi-Fi interface according to a second scheme of the Wi-Fi standard different from the first scheme. The controller may be configured to, in a case where the communication device shifts to a state in which the communication device is unable to execute wireless communication with the terminal device by using the first wireless connection after both the first wireless connection and the second wireless connection have been established at the terminal device, receive disablement information from the communication device via the Wi-Fi interface by using the second wireless connection, wherein the disablement information indicates that the wireless communication using the first wireless connection is inexecutable. The controller may be configured to, in a case where the disablement information is received from the communication device, cause an output unit of the terminal device to output the disablement information.

According to the configuration above, in the case where the communication device shifts to the state in which the communication device is unable to execute wireless communication with the terminal device by using the first wireless connection after the first wireless connection according to the first scheme and the second wireless connection according to the second scheme have been established, the terminal device receives the disablement information from the communication device by using the second wireless connection and outputs the disablement information. Thus, the user of the terminal device is notified that the communication device is unable to execute wireless communication by using the first wireless connection.

Computer-readable instructions (i.e., computer program) for the above communication device, a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing the computer-readable instructions, and methods performed by the communication device are also novel and useful. Further, computer-readable instructions (i.e., computer program) for the above terminal device, a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing the computer-readable instructions, and methods performed by the terminal device are also novel and useful. Additionally, communication systems comprising the above communication device and terminal device are also novel and useful.

1 FIG. 2 10 100 6 10 100 10 100 6 100 10 10 6 10 100 6 6 6 As shown in, a communication systemcomprises a printer, a terminal, and an access point (“AP” hereinafter)A. A wireless connection according to a Wi-Fi Aware scheme of the Wi-Fi standard (termed “Wi-Fi Aware connection” hereinafter) is established between the printerand the terminal. The printerand the terminalbelong to a wireless network formed by the APA. For example, the terminalreceives a status of the printerby using the Wi-Fi Aware connection and sends print data representing an image to be printed (termed “print target image” hereinafter) to the printervia the APA, although details will be described later. This embodiment assumes that the printerand the terminalbecomes unable to wirelessly communicate with each other via the APA due to the APA being replaced with an APB.

10 100 10 10 12 14 16 18 30 12 30 The printeris a peripheral device configured to execute a print function, for example, a peripheral device of the terminal. In a modification, the printermay be a multifunctional device configured to execute a scan function, a facsimile function, and the like in addition to a print function. The printercomprises an operation unit, a display unit, a Wi-Fi interface, a print executing unit, and a controller. The unitstoare connected to a bus line. Hereinafter, an interface is abbreviated as “I/F”.

12 10 10 12 14 18 The operation unitis an I/F configured to allow a user to input various information to the printerand comprises, for example, a touch screen and/or buttons. The user can input various information to the printervia the operation unit. The display unitis a display for displaying various information. The print executing unitcomprises a print mechanism of, for example, inkjet scheme, laser scheme, or thermal scheme.

16 16 The Wi-Fi I/Fis a wireless I/F for Wi-Fi communication according to the Wi-Fi standard. The Wi-Fi standard is a wireless communication standard for wireless communication according to, for example, 802.11 standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) and standards in compliance therewith such as 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, and 11ac. Especially, the Wi-Fi I/Fsupports the Wi-Fi Aware scheme established by the Wi-Fi Alliance. The Wi-Fi Aware scheme is described in detail in the specification called “Wi-Fi Aware Specification Version 4.0” created by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Wi-Fi Aware is also called Wi-Fi Neighbor Awareness Network (NAN).

10 100 The devices (the printerand the terminal) can join a NAN cluster of the Wi-Fi Aware scheme, although details will be described later. Among devices within the same NAN cluster, their Discovery Windows are synchronized. Here, a Discovery Window is a period during which signals are communicated.

Each of the devices within the NAN cluster plays any one of the following roles: a Master, an Anchor Master, and a Non-Master. A Master is capable of sharing timer information, searching for services, and inviting device(s) to the NAN cluster. In addition to the Master's functions, an Anchor Master is also capable of setting timer information for synchronization. A Non-Master is capable of sharing timer information and searching for services but incapable of inviting device(s) to the cluster.

100 10 100 10 10 100 10 100 100 10 100 Each device within the NAN cluster can search for another device (more specifically, a service provided by another device) within the NAN cluster. A signal for this service search is called Subscribe. A device sends a response signal called Publish in response to receiving a Subscribe. In this embodiment, the terminalsends a Subscribe to search for a device that can provide a connection service related to Wi-Fi Aware connection, although details will be described later. The printercan provide the connection service and thus sends the terminala Publish indicating that the printerprovides the connection service. After this, upon the completion of a paring process to establish a Wi-Fi Aware connection between the printerand the terminal, a Wi-Fi Aware connection is established between the printerand the terminal. In this embodiment, the terminalalso sends a Subscribe to search for a device that can provide a status service related to device status. The printercan provide the status service and thus sends a Publish including its own status (e.g., connection status) to the terminal.

16 6 10 6 10 100 The Wi-Fi I/Fis also a wireless I/F for wireless communication according to a normal W-Fi scheme of the Wi-Fi standard, which is different from the Wi-Fi Aware scheme. Generally, wireless communication according to the normal Wi-Fi scheme refers to wireless communication using an AP (e.g., the APA), while wireless communication according to the Wi-Fi Aware scheme refers to wireless communication without the use of an AP. For example, the printercan join a normal W-Fi network by establishing a wireless connection with an AP (e.g.,A) (termed “AP connection” hereinafter). The printercan execute wireless communication with devices (e.g., the terminal) within the normal W-Fi network via the AP.

30 32 34 34 36 32 36 The controllercomprises a CPUand a memory. The memorycomprises a main storage and an auxiliary storage. The main storage comprises, for example, a RAM, cache memory, etc. The auxiliary storage may be, for example, a flash memory, a solid state drive (SSD), a ROM, or any combination thereof. A programis stored in the auxiliary storage. The CPUimplements various processes according to the programloaded from the auxiliary storage to the main storage.

100 100 100 112 114 116 130 112 130 The terminalis a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet PC, or the like. In a modification, the terminalmay be a stationary PC, a laptop PC, or the like. The terminalcomprises an operation unit, a display unit, a Wi-Fi I/F, and a controller. The unitstoare connected to a bus line.

112 100 100 112 114 116 16 10 116 The operation unitis an I/F configured to allow the user to input various information to the terminaland comprises, for example, a touch screen and/or buttons. The user can input various information to the terminalvia the operation unit. The display unitis a display for displaying various information. The Wi-Fi I/Fis the same as the Wi-Fi I/Fof the printer. That is, the Wi-Fi I/Fsupports the Wi-Fi Aware scheme.

130 132 134 134 136 138 132 136 138 The controllercomprises a CPUand a memory. The memorycomprises a main storage and an auxiliary storage. The main storage comprises, for example, a RAM, a cache memory, etc. The auxiliary storage may be, for example, a flash memory, a Solid State Drive (SSD), a ROM, or any combination thereof. An OS programand an application programare stored in the auxiliary storage. The CPUimplements various processes according to the programs,loaded from the auxiliary storage to the main storage. Hereinafter, the OS program is abbreviated as “OS” and the application program is abbreviated as “app”.

136 100 138 136 10 100 138 10 6 138 100 The OScontrols basic operations of the terminal. The appcan cause the OSto execute a process according to the Wi-Fi Aware scheme to establish a Wi-Fi Aware connection between the printerand the terminal. The appcan also send print data representing a print target image to the printervia an AP (e.g., the APA). The appis downloaded, for example, from a server on the internet and installed in the terminal.

6 6 6 6 6 The APA is a normal access point called a wireless access point or a wireless LAN router. The APA relays communication between a pair of devices that belong to a wireless network in which the APA operates as the parent station. The APA stores a service set identifier (SSID) “AAA” and a password “XXX”. Hereinafter, a password is abbreviated as “PW”. The SSID “AAA” is information for identifying the wireless network formed by the APA. The PW “XXX” is authentication information used in the wireless network.

6 6 6 An APB stores an SSID “BBB” and a PW “YYY”. Except for this, the APB is the same as the APA.

2 FIG. 2 FIG. 32 132 10 100 16 116 10 Referring now to, steps performed between the devices are described. Hereinafter, in order to facilitate understanding, steps performed by the CPUs (e.g.,,) of the devices (e.g., the printer, the terminal) are described as if the devices perform the steps, instead of describing that the CPUs perform the steps. Every communication between the devices is executed via the Wi-Fi I/Fs (e.g.,,). Thus, hereinafter, a phrase “via the Wi-Fi interface” is omitted in communication-related description. In the initial state in, the printeris operating as an Anchor Master in a NAN cluster.

10 10 6 10 6 10 6 10 10 In T, a process for establishing an AP connection between the printerand the APA is executed, and as a result, an AP connection is established between the printerand the APA. The above process includes, for example, input of the SSID “AAA” and the PW “XXX” into the printer, authentication of the input SSID “AAA” and PW “XXX”, etc. When the AP connection is established with the APA in T, the printerstores the SSID “AAA”, although this is not illustrated.

12 100 6 100 6 10 100 6 10 100 6 6 12 100 In T, a process for establishing an AP connection between the terminaland the APA is executed, and as a result, an AP connection is established between the terminaland the APA. Consequently, both the printerand the terminalbelong to the wireless network formed by the APA. That is, the printerand the terminalare communicable with each other via the APA. When the AP connection is established with the APA in T, the terminalstores the SSID “AAA”, although this is not illustrated.

20 100 100 116 132 In T, the terminalreceives a NAN enablement operation from the user and in response to it, the terminalshifts to a state of being able to receive signals according to the Wi-Fi Aware scheme. Here, the “state of being able to receive signals according to the Wi-Fi Aware scheme” means that the Wi-Fi I/Fcan receive signals according to the Wi-Fi Aware scheme from external devices and the CPUcan perform steps according to the received signals.

22 10 10 10 In T, the printersends a NAN Discovery Beacon frame (termed “Discovery” hereinafter) by broadcasting. The Discovery is a signal according to the Wi-Fi Aware scheme that advises information related to the NAN cluster to which the printerbelongs to external devices. Devices that do not belong to the NAN cluster can join the NAN cluster by receiving the Discovery. That is, the Discovery can be also construed as a signal for inviting devices that do not belong to the NAN cluster to the NAN cluster. The printerperiodically sends a Discovery.

22 100 100 10 22 100 24 10 100 100 10 100 At the time of T, the terminalis in the state of being able to receive signals according to the Wi-Fi Aware scheme, and thus, the terminalreceives the Discovery from the printerin T. In response, the terminaljoins the NAN cluster in T. As a result, the printerand the terminalbelong to the same NAN cluster. After joining the NAN cluster, the terminalcommunicates with the printerto determine its role in the NAN cluster. In the present case, the terminaloperates as a Non-Master.

26 100 10 10 100 26 In T, the terminalsends a Subscribe within the NAN cluster by broadcasting. In the present case, this Subscribe is sent to the printerwithin the NAN cluster. If there are devices other than the printerand the terminalwithin the NAN cluster, the Subscribe is also sent to these devices. The Subscribe sent in Tis a signal for searching for a device that provides the connection service, that is, a signal for searching for a device that can establish a Wi-Fi Aware connection.

26 10 100 10 10 100 28 10 In T, the printerreceives the Subscribe from the terminal. Since the printercan provide the connection service, the printersends a Publish to the terminalin T. This Publish includes a serial number PI of the printer.

28 100 10 100 100 114 1 30 100 1 1 In T, the terminalreceives the Publish from the printer. If there are other devices within the NAN cluster, the terminalmay receive Publishes from these devices. In response to receiving one or more Publishes, the terminalcauses the display unitto display a selection screen SCin T. The selection screen SCI includes a message that prompts the user to select a desired device for which a Wi-Fi Aware connection is to be established with the terminaland the received one or more serial numbers. In the present case, the selection screen SCincludes the serial number P.

32 100 1 10 1 100 34 10 100 40 10 100 In T, the terminalreceives selection of the serial number PI in the selection screen SCfrom the user. In response, a pairing process is executed between the printercorresponding to the selected serial number Pand the terminalin T. During the pairing process, the printerand the terminalstore pairing information (e.g., an NAN Pairing Key (NPK), an NAN Identity Key (NIK)) for Wi-Fi Aware connection. As a result, in T, a Wi-Fi Aware connection is established between the printerand the terminalby using the pairing information.

10 100 10 100 34 42 Once the Wi-Fi Aware connection has been established between the printerand the terminal, the printerstores the pairing information and a serial number Tl of the terminalin association with each other in the memoryin T.

10 100 100 134 44 Once the Wi-Fi Aware connection has been established between the printerand the terminal, the terminalstores the pairing information and the serial number Pl in association with each other in the memoryin T.

10 100 6 100 10 6 100 10 10 10 10 10 100 The printerand the terminalcan wirelessly communicate with each other via the APA and can also wirelessly communicate with each other by using the Wi-Fi Aware connection. In this embodiment, the terminalcan send print data to the printerby using wireless communication via the APA. The terminalcan also receive a status of the printerfrom the printerby using wireless communication via the Wi-Fi Aware connection. The status of the printeris used when the user wishes the printerto execute printing. In this embodiment, the user wishes the printerfor which the Wi-Fi Aware connection has already been established with the terminalto execute printing.

6 6 10 6 100 6 10 100 6 10 6 100 6 6 Thereafter, the user installs the APB in place of the APA. The AP connection between the printerand the APA and the AP connection between the terminaland the APA are thereby disconnected. That is, the printerand the terminalare no longer able to wirelessly communicate with each other via the APA. In a modification, the AP connection between the printerand the APA and the AP connection between the terminaland the APA may be disconnected due to the APA being turned off.

6 100 6 50 100 6 100 10 6 After the APB has been installed, a process for establishing an AP connection between the terminaland the APB is executed in T, and as a result, an AP connection is established between the terminaland the APB. This process includes, for example, input of the SSID “BBB” and the PW “YYY” into the terminal, authentication of the input SSID “BBB” and PW “YYY”, etc. At this time, an AP connection is not established between the printerand the newly installed APB, for example, because the user forgets to establish an AP connection therebetween.

100 100 10 100 102 10 3 FIG. In Tof, the terminalreceives a print operation from the user. This print operation includes, for example, selection of the serial number PI of the printerat which printing is to be executed, selection of image data representing a print target image, selection of a print condition (e.g., a paper size, the number of copies, a color condition (color, monochrome, or grayscale), etc.), and the like. In response, the terminalsends a Subscribe within the NAN cluster by broadcasting in T. This Subscribe is a signal for searching for a device that provides the status service, that is, a signal for requesting a status of a device to which the Subscribe is sent. In the present case, the Subscribe is sent to the printerwithin the NAN cluster.

102 10 100 10 10 6 10 10 6 10 10 100 10 100 104 10 10 10 In T, the printerreceives the Subscribe from the terminal. In response, the printersearches for APs present around the printer(e.g., sends a Probe Request), although this is not illustrated. In the present case, the APB is present around the printer, and thus the printerreceives the SSID “BBB” from the APB. The printerhas never joined a wireless network identified by the SSID “BBB”. In this case, the printersends a Publish to the terminalby using the already-established Wi-Fi Aware connection between the printerand the terminalin T. This Publish includes the serial number PI of the printerand AP connection disablement information (SSID Not Found). Here, “AP connection disablement information (SSID Not Found)” means that the printeris unable to establish an AP connection because an SSID of a wireless network that the printerhas joined before was not found in the search.

104 100 10 100 10 100 106 100 10 100 100 42 106 100 10 2 FIG. In T, the terminalreceives the Publish from the printer. Since the Publish includes the AP connection disablement information (SSID Not Found), the terminalcan recognize that the printerhas no AP connection established. In this case, the terminaldetermines in Twhether the terminalhas a Wi-Fi Aware connection established (i.e., has executed pairing) with the device that has sent the Publish (which is the printerin the present case). Specifically, the terminaldetermines whether the serial number PI included in the received Publish is already stored in association with the pairing information. In the present case, the terminalalready stores the serial number PI in association with the pairing information (see Tin). Thus, in T, the terminaldetermines that a Wi-Fi Aware connection is already established with the printer.

100 100 6 100 106 110 106 100 110 The determination on whether a Wi-Fi Aware connection is already established with the device that has sent the Publish is made for the following reason. The user probably does not wish printing to be executed at a printer for which a Wi-Fi Aware connection is not established with the terminal. Since the user does not wish printing at such a printer, the terminaldoes not need to be able to wirelessly communicate with the printer via an AP even when it receives a Publish including the AP connection disablement information (SSID Not Found) from such a printer. That is, the printer does not need to establish an AP connection with the APB. Thus, when the terminaldetermines in Tthat a Wi-Fi Aware connection is not established with the printer that has sent the Publish, a sequence from Tonward, which is for establishing an alternative communication path for communication of print data, is not executed. By making the determination in T, the terminalcan determine whether the sequence from Tonward is to be executed or not.

104 10 106 10 100 114 10 110 10 10 10 In response to receiving the Publish including the AP connection disablement information (SSID Not Found) in Tfrom the printerand determining in Tthat a Wi-Fi Aware connection is already established with the printer, the terminalcauses the display unitto display a cause screen SCin T. The cause screen SCincludes a message indicating that wireless communication is inexecutable with the printervia an AP and a message indicating the cause of wireless communication being inexecutable with the printervia an AP (e.g., “AP connected with the printer is not found.”).

112 100 114 20 20 6 10 20 10 10 In T, the terminalcauses the display unitto display a method screen SC. The method screen SCindicates a method for executing alternative wireless communication instead of wireless communication via the APA and includes a message asking the user whether the printeris to be connected with another AP, a YES button, and NO button. The method screen SCallows the user to be notified of the method for causing the printerto execute printing (i.e., that an AP connection needs to be established between the printerand another AP).

120 100 20 100 114 22 122 22 6 10 In T, the terminalreceives selection of the YES button in the method screen SCfrom the user. In response, the terminalcauses the display unitto display an input screen SCin T. The input screen SCincludes a message that prompts the user to input an SSID and a PW of an AP (in the present case, the APB) for which an AP connection is to be established with the printer, an SSID entry field, a PW entry field, and an OK button.

124 100 6 6 22 100 10 126 In T, the terminalreceives input of the SSID “BBB” of the APB into the SSID entry field, input of the PW “YYY” of the APB into the PW entry field, and selection of the OK button in the input screen SCfrom the user. In response, the terminalsends the input SSID “BBB” and PW “YYY” to the printerin Tby using the already-established Wi-Fi Aware connection.

126 10 100 10 6 130 10 6 6 6 10 In T, the printerreceives the SSID “BBB” and the PW “YYY” from the terminal. In response, a process for establishing an AP connection between the printerand the APB is executed in T, and as a result, an AP connection is established between the printerand the APB. This process includes, for example, a search for a wireless network identified by the received SSID “BBB” (i.e., a search for the APB), authentication of the received SSID “BBB” and PW “YYY”, etc. Once the AP connection has been established with the APB, the printerstores the SSID “BBB”, although this is not illustrated.

10 6 10 100 6 10 100 6 132 100 10 6 10 Once the AP connection has been established between the printerand the APB, the printerand the terminalboth belong to the wireless network formed by the APB. That is, the printerand the terminalare communicable with each other via the APB. In T, the terminalsends print data to the printervia the APB. This print data has a data format that the printercan interpret.

100 6 132 10 18 134 10 100 6 6 6 10 6 In response to receiving the print data from the terminalvia the APB in T, the printercauses the print executing unitto print a print target image represented by the print data in T. As above, the printercan receive print data from the terminalvia the APB and print the print target image by newly establishing an AP connection with the APB after the AP connection with the APA has been disconnected. Especially, the AP connection between the printerand the APB is established during the course of steps starting from the receipt of the print operation from the user, which improves user convenience.

10 100 6 6 6 100 10 100 104 10 100 114 10 110 100 10 100 2 FIG. 3 FIG. According to the above configuration, the printershifts to the state of being unable to wirelessly communicate with the terminalvia the APA in response to the AP connection with the APA being disconnected after both the AP connection with the APA and the Wi-Fi Aware connection with the terminalhave been established (see). In this case, the printersends a Publish including the AP connection disablement information (SSID Not Found) to the terminalby using the Wi-Fi Aware connection (Tin). In response to receiving the Publish from the printer, the terminalcauses the display unitto display the cause screen SC(T). This allows the user of the terminalto be notified that wireless communication via the AP is inexecutable between the printerand the terminal.

10 6 10 10 10 10 6 10 6 100 130 3 FIG. After the AP connection between the printerand the APA has been disconnected, the user usually has to walk up to the printerand directly operate the printeror has to voluntarily access the printerfunctioning as a web server in order to newly establish an AP connection. In contrast, according to the embodiment above, after the AP connection between the printerand the APA has been disconnected, an AP connection can be newly established between the printerand the APB during the course of steps starting from the receipt of the print operation (Tto Tin). This improves user convenience.

10 100 6 6 10 10 6 10 100 6 12 10 100 40 10 6 130 102 104 20 132 6 2 FIG. 2 FIG. 3 FIG. The printerand the terminalare examples of “communication device” and “terminal device”, respectively. The APA and the APB are examples of “first external device” and “second external device”, respectively. The serial number PI of the printeris an example of “specific identification information”. The normal W-Fi scheme and the Wi-Fi Aware scheme are examples of “first scheme” and “second scheme”, respectively. The AP connection established between the printerand the APA in Tofand the AP connection established between the terminaland the APA in Tofare examples of “first wireless connection between the communication device and a first external device” and “first wireless connection between the terminal device and the first external device”, respectively. The Wi-Fi Aware connection established between the printerand the terminalin Tis an example of “second wireless connection”. The AP connection established between the printerand the APB in Tofis an example of “third wireless connection”. The Subscribe in Tis an example of “specific process request”. The AP connection disablement information (SSID Not Found) included in the Publish in Tis examples of “disablement information”, “cause information”, and “first cause information”. The method screen SCis an example of “first method information”. The print data sent in Tis an example of “corresponding information”. The SSID “BBB” and the PW “YYY” of the APB are an example of “connection information”.

10 40 130 104 126 132 2 FIG. 3 FIG. Tand Tinand Tinare examples of “establish a first wireless connection”, “establish a second wireless connection”, and “establish a third wireless connection” by the “communication device”, respectively. Tis an example of “send disablement information” by the “communication device”. Tand Tare examples of “receive connection information” and “receive corresponding information that corresponds to the specific process request from the terminal device via the Wi-Fi interface by using the third wireless connection” by the “communication device”, respectively.

12 40 102 104 110 112 126 132 2 FIG. 3 FIG. Tand Tinare examples of “establish a first wireless connection” and “establish a second wireless connection” by the “terminal device”, respectively. Tinis examples of “send a status request” and “send a specific process request” by the “terminal device”. Tis examples of “receive disablement information” and “receive cause information” by the “terminal device”. Tand Tare examples of “cause an output unit of the terminal device to output the disablement information” and “cause the output unit to output method information” by the “terminal device”, respectively. Tand Tare examples of “send connection information” and “send corresponding information that corresponds to the specific process request to the communication device via the Wi-Fi interface by using the third wireless connection” by the “terminal device”, respectively.

4 FIG. 4 FIG. 2 FIG. 4 FIG. 3 FIG. 16 116 200 210 100 110 Referring now to, a second embodiment is described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the method screen. In the second embodiment, the Wi-Fi I/Fs,further support a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD, a registered trademark owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance) scheme of the Wi-Fi standard established by the Wi-Fi Alliance. The WFD scheme is detailed in the specification “Wi-Fi Direct Specification Version 1.9” created by the Wi-Fi Alliance.shows a sequence continued from. A sequence from Tto Tinis the same as the sequence from Tto Tin.

212 100 114 30 30 6 10 100 30 10 10 In T, the terminalcauses the display unitto display a method screen SC. The method screen SCindicates a method for executing alternative wireless communication instead of wireless communication via the APA and includes a message asking the user whether a wireless connection according to the WFD scheme (i.e., a direct connection) is to be established between the printerand the terminal, a YES button, and a NO button. Hereinafter, a wireless connection according to the WFD scheme is termed a “WFD connection”. The method screen SCallows the user to be notified of the method for causing the printerto execute printing (i.e., that a WFD connection needs to be established with the printer).

220 100 30 222 100 10 10 10 100 In T, the terminalreceives selection of the YES button in the method screen SCfrom the user. In response, in T, the terminalsends the printera G/O activate request that requests the printerto operate as a Group Owner (i.e., as a parent station, termed G/O) of the WFD scheme, by using the already-established Wi-Fi Aware connection between the printerand the terminal.

100 222 10 224 10 226 10 100 10 100 10 100 10 100 228 In response to receiving the G/O activate request from the terminalin T, the printerstarts operating as G/O in T. The printeroperating as the G/O forms a wireless network identified by an SSID “CCC”. In this wireless network, a PW “ZZZ” is used. In T, the printersends the SSID “CCC” and the PW “ZZZ” to the terminalby using the already-established Wi-Fi Aware connection between the printerand the terminal. Then, a process according to the WFD scheme, including Authentication, Association, 4-way handshake, etc., is executed between the printerand the terminal, and as a result, a WFD connection is established between the printerand the terminalin T.

10 100 10 100 230 100 10 Once the WFD connection has been established between the printerand the terminal, the printerand the terminalbecome communicable with each other. In T, the terminalsends print data to the printerby using the WFD connection.

100 230 10 18 232 10 100 100 6 10 100 10 100 100 222 228 222 4 FIG. 4 FIG. In response to receiving the print data from the terminalin T, the printercauses the print executing unitto print a print target image represented by the print data in T. As above, the printercan receive print data from the terminaland print the print target image by newly establishing a WFD connection with the terminalafter the AP connection with the APA has been disconnected. Especially, the WFD connection between the printerand the terminalis established during the course of steps starting from the receipt of the print operation from the user, which improves user convenience. After the printing has been completed, the WFD connection between the printerand the terminalis disconnected. In this embodiment, the terminalis an example of “second external device”. The G/O activate request in Tofis an example of “predetermined request”. The WFD connection established in Tis an example of “third wireless connection”. Tinis an example of “receive a predetermined request” by the “communication device” and an example of “send a predetermined request” by the “terminal device”.

5 FIG. 5 FIG. 2 FIG. 5 FIG. 3 FIG. 300 310 100 110 Referring now to, a third embodiment is described. The third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in the method screen.shows a sequence continued from. A sequence from Tto Tinis the same as the sequence from Tto Tin.

312 100 114 40 40 6 10 100 40 10 In T, the terminalcauses the display unitto display a method screen SC. The method screen SCindicates a method for executing alternative wireless communication instead of wireless communication via the APA and includes a message asking the user whether print data is to be communicated by using the already-established Wi-Fi Aware connection between the printerand the terminal, a YES button, and a NO button. The method screen SCallows the user to be notified of the method for causing the printerto execute printing (i.e., that the already-established Wi-Fi Aware connection needs to be used).

320 100 40 100 10 322 10 40 2 FIG. In T, the terminalreceives selection of the YES button in the method screen SCfrom the user. In response, the terminalsends a Data Path Request to the printerin T. The Data Path Request is a signal that requests the printerto establish a communication path (i.e., a Data Path) for communication of print data in the already-established Wi-Fi Aware connection (see Tin).

100 322 10 100 324 In response to receiving the Data Path Request from the terminalin T, the printersends a Data Path Response to the terminalin T.

10 324 100 10 326 10 100 328 100 10 330 In response to receiving the Data Path Response from the printerin T, the terminalsends a Data Path Confirm to the printerin T. As a result, a Data Path is established in the Wi-Fi Aware connection between the printerand the terminalin T. Then, the terminalsends print data representing a print target image to the printerby using the Data Path in T.

100 330 10 18 332 10 100 6 In response to receiving the print data from the terminalin T, the printercauses the print executing unitto print the print target image represented by the print data in T. As above, the printercan receive print data from the terminaland print the print target image by establishing a Data Path in the already-established Wi-Fi Aware connection after the AP connection with the APA has been disconnected. Especially, the Data Path is established during the course of steps starting from the receipt of the print operation from the user, which improves user convenience.

330 100 10 334 10 100 336 330 5 FIG. After having sent the print data in T, the terminalsends a Data Path Termination to the printerin T. As a result, the Data Path between the printerand the terminaldisappears in T. In this embodiment, Tinis an example of “receive corresponding information that corresponds to the specific process request from the terminal device via the Wi-Fi interface by using the second wireless connection” by the “communication device” and an example of “send corresponding information that corresponds to the specific process request to the communication device via the Wi-Fi interface by using the second wireless connection” by the “terminal device”.

6 FIG. 6 FIG. 2 FIG. 10 6 10 44 10 100 6 10 100 Referring now to, a fourth embodiment is described. The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the cause of the printernot being able to establish an AP connection with the APA. In, first, the same sequence as the sequence from Tto Tinis executed. That is, the printerand the terminalboth join the wireless network formed by the APA and a Wi-Fi Aware connection is established between the printerand the terminal.

400 6 6 10 100 In T, the PW “XXX” of the APA is changed to a PW “WWW”. Thereby, the AP connections between the APA and each of the printerand the terminalare disconnected.

401 100 6 100 6 100 402 403 100 102 3 FIG. In T, a process for reestablishing an AP connection between the terminaland the APA with the changed PW is executed, and as a result, an AP connection is reestablished between the terminaland the APA. The above process includes, for example, input of the SSID “AAA” and the changed PW “WWW” into the terminal, authentication of the input SSID “AAA” and PW “WWW”, etc. Tand Tare the same as Tand Tin.

403 10 100 10 10 6 10 10 100 10 100 404 1 10 10 406 106 3 FIG. In T, the printerreceives a Subscribe from the terminal. In response, the printerexecutes a process to search for APs present around the printerand receives the SSID “AAA” from the APA, although this is not illustrated. The printerhas joined the wireless network identified by the SSID “AAA” before. In this case, the printersends a Publish to the terminalby using the already-established Wi-Fi Aware connection between the printerand the terminalin T. This Publish includes the serial number Pof the printerand AP connection disablement information (SSID “AAA”). Here, the AP connection disablement information (SSID “AAA”) means that the SSID “AAA” of the wireless network that the printerhas joined before was found in the search. Tis the same as Tin.

10 404 406 10 100 114 100 410 100 10 10 In response to receiving the Publish including the AP connection disablement information (SSID “AAA”) from the printerin Tand determining in Tthat a Wi-Fi Aware connection is already established with the printer, the terminalcauses the display unitto display a cause screen SCin T. The cause screen SCincludes a message indicating that wireless communication is inexecutable via an AP with the printerand a message indicating the cause of wireless communication being inexecutable via an AP with the printer(e.g., “The printer cannot connect with the AP with the SSID “AAA”).

412 100 114 110 110 6 10 6 110 20 112 100 10 3 FIG. In T, the terminalcauses the display unitto display a method screen SC. The method screen SCindicates a method for executing alternative wireless communication instead of wireless communication via the APA with which the AP connection was disconnected, and includes a message asking the user whether the printeris to be reconnected with the same APA, a YES button, and a NO button. Thus, the method screen SCdisplayed here is different from the method screen SC(see Tin) displayed in response to the receipt of the AP connection disablement information (SSID Not Found) in the first embodiment. Thus, the terminalcan display different method screens depending on the cause of wireless communication being inexecutable via an AP with the printer.

420 100 110 100 114 112 112 22 3 FIG. In T, the terminalreceives selection of the YES button in the method screen SCfrom the user. In response, the terminalcauses the display unitto display an input screen SC. The input screen SCis the same as the input screen SC(see) except that the SSID “AAA” is shown in the SSID entry field.

424 100 6 112 100 112 10 426 In T, the terminalreceives input of the changed PW “WWW” of the APA into the PW entry field in the input screen SCand selection of the OK button from the user. In response, the terminalsends the SSID “AAA” shown in the input screen SCand the input PW “WWW” to the printerby using the already-established Wi-Fi Aware connection in T.

426 10 100 10 6 430 10 6 6 432 434 132 134 6 6 404 110 3 FIG. 6 FIG. In T, the printerreceives the SSID “AAA” and the PW “WWW” from the terminal. In response, a process for establishing an AP connection between the printerand the APA is executed in T, and as a result, an AP connection is reestablished between the printerand the APA. The above process includes, for example, a search for the wireless network identified by the received SSID “AAA” (i.e., a search for the APA), authentication of the received SSID “AAA” and PW “WWW”, etc. Tand Tare the same as Tand Tinexcept for using the wireless network formed by the APA instead of the wireless network formed by the APB. In this embodiment, the AP connection disablement information (SSID “AAA”) included in the Publish in Tofis an example of “second cause information”. The method screen SCis an example of “second method information”.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with various example structures outlined above and illustrated in the figures, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example embodiments of the disclosure, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative of the invention, and not limiting the invention. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to embrace all known or later developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents. Some specific examples of potential alternatives, modifications, or variations in the described invention are provided below:

10 6 10 100 6 10 100 10 100 10 10 100 (Modification 1) In the above embodiments, the AP connection between the printerand the APA is disconnected after the printerand the terminalhave joined the wireless network formed by the APA. In a modification, the technology is useful even where a WFD connection is disconnected after the WFD connection has been established between the printerand the terminal. A WFD connection may be disconnected, for example, when the number of child stations allowed to establish a WFD connection reaches its upper limit. For example, a situation is assumed where the upper limit for the number of child stations allowed to establish a WFD connect is three and three WFD connections are already established between the printeroperating as G/O and three devices (i.e., child stations) including the terminal. When a WFD connection is to be established between the printerand a device other than the three devices in that situation, a WFD connection between the printerand one of the three devices may be disconnected. In this modification, the terminalis an example of “first external device”, the WFD scheme is an example of “first scheme”, and the WFD connection is an example of “first wireless connection”.

100 10 6 102 10 100 6 6 10 100 6 102 3 FIG. 3 FIG. (Modification 2) The terminalmay send a Subscribe to devices within the NAN cluster to request their statuses, for example, in response to receiving a status request operation for requesting statuses of printers within the NAN cluster after the AP connection between the printerand the APA has been disconnected (see Tin). Then, the printermay send its status to the terminalvia the APB after an AP connection with the APB has been established. In this modification, the above Subscribe is an example of “specific process request” and the status sent from the printerto the terminalvia the APB is an example of “corresponding information”. The Subscribe sent in Tofmay not be a signal that requests statuses of devices to which the Subscribe is sent and may be, for example, a signal that requests a specific function to be executed. In this modification, “send a status request” by the “terminal device” may be omitted.

40 320 10 100 100 10 5 FIG. (Modification 3) In the third embodiment described above, a Data Path is established in response to the user selecting the YES button in the method screen SCin Tof. In a modification, a Data Path may be established, for example, when a Wi-Fi Aware connection is established between the printerand the terminal. Then, the terminalmay send print data to the printerby using the Data Path.

10 100 40 2 FIG. (Modification 4) The wireless connection established between the printerand the terminalin Tofmay not be a Wi-Fi Aware connection (i.e., a wireless connection according to the Wi-Fi Aware scheme). Generally, the “second scheme” may not be the “Wi-Fi Aware scheme”.

110 100 10 112 100 20 3 FIG. (Modification 5) In Tof, the terminalmay send, for example, an e-mail including the messages included in the cause screen SCto a preset administrator's e-mail address. In this modification, sending the e-mail is an example of “cause an output unit of the terminal device to output the disablement information” by the “terminal device”. Similarly, in T, the terminalmay send an e-mail including the message included in the method screen SCto the administrator's e-mail address. In this modification, sending the e-mail is an example of “cause the output unit to output method information” by the “terminal device”.

100 106 1 10 104 100 110 10 100 10 44 10 10 1 100 104 100 110 10 3 FIG. 2 FIG. 3 FIG. (Modification 6) The terminalmay omit Tin. That is, in response to receiving a Publish including the serial number Pand the AP connection disablement information (SSID Not Found) from the printerin T, the terminalmay execute the sequence from Tonward regardless of whether a Wi-Fi Aware connection is already established with the printeror not. In another modification, the terminalmay store a MAC address of the printerand the pairing information in association with each other in Tof. Then, the printermay send a Publish including the MAC address of the printerinstead of the serial number Pto the terminalin Tof. The terminalthen may execute the sequence from Tonward in response to determining that the MAC address included in the Publish is stored in association with the pairing information. In this modification, the MAC address of the printeris an example of “specific identification information”.

100 112 100 10 6 10 3 FIG. (Modification 7) The terminalmay omit Tin. In this case, for example, the user of the terminalwho is familiar with wireless communication settings, etc. may cause a process for establishing an AP connection between the printerand the APB to be executed after viewing the cause screen SC. In this modification, “cause the output unit to output method information” by the “terminal device” may be omitted.

10 (Modification 8) The printermay send a Publish that only includes the AP connection disablement information (i.e., does not include the cause (SSID Not Found)) instead of the AP connection disablement information (SSID Not Found). Generally, the “terminal device” may not receive the “cause information”. In this modification, “receive cause information” may be omitted.

100 104 10 100 104 100 3 FIG. 3 FIG. (Modification 9) In the embodiments described above, the printer sends a Publish including the AP connection disablement information (SSID Not Found) to the terminalin Tof. That is, in the embodiments, the “disablement information” and the “cause information” are sent simultaneously. In a modification, they may be sent at different timings. For example, the printermay first send a Publish including the AP connection disablement information to the terminalin Tofand then send a Follow-up including the cause of an AP connection being unable to be established (e.g., SSID Not Found) to the terminal. This Follow-up is defined by the Wi-Fi Aware scheme. In this modification, receiving the Publish and receiving the Follow-up are examples of “receive disablement information” and “receive cause information” by the “terminal device”, respectively.

2 6 FIGS.to 36 136 138 (Modification 10) In the embodiments described above, the steps ineach are implemented by software (e.g., the program, the OS, the app), however, at least one of these steps may be implemented by hardware such as a logic circuit, etc.